Family law attorney Natalie L. Mathews had been in practice for 17 years when she joined Stewart Law Group as partner in 2021. She’s high energy but reserved and a keen observer. Natalie brings zealous advocacy and compassion to every client’s legal matter, whether the case is straightforward or complex. Always eager to collaborate, she loves brainstorming with colleagues – exchanging ideas and sharing professional experiences – in a concerted effort to help clients by implementing winning legal strategies and litigation tactics. A proponent of settlement whenever it’s possible, Natalie’s creative legal mind is always working on outside-the-box solutions to clients’ problems. Natalie is definitely a team player, and not just at the office. This Phoenix native is a lifelong competitive swimmer and a serious runner, competing in ultra-marathons and trail races. She has tested her mettle in the Ultra-marathon (Antelope Canyon), Half Dome (Yosemite), Rim2Rim (Grand Canyon), Imogene Pass (Ouray and Telluride), and national Ragnar relay races, among others. With four children under the age of 14 (including a set of twins), one rescue dog and two cats, instead of slowing down she simply picked up the pace.

Rich J. Peters is a proud native of Phoenix, Arizona. As the owner of R.J. Peters & Assoc., P.C., his firm operates less than one mile from the hospital he was born at. Rich has limited his legal practice to Family Law since 1992. He was sworn in by the State Bar of Arizona on October 25, 1992, just a few days after his 25th birthday. Rich often brags that he was the youngest lawyer in the state when he was sworn in, but this is truly just a guess. Rich has owned R.J. Peters & Assoc. Since 2005. Prior to that, he worked for two very prominent Family Law firms in Glendale and Phoenix. While not every case needs to go to Court, Rich does enjoy being in the Courtroom and considers that one of his greatest skills. Although being born and raised in Phoenix, Rich did move around a bit during his youth, spending time in Spain, Houston, and South Africa. In 1989 he graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Business. In 1992 he graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Juris Doctor. He immediately returned home to Phoenix after law school. Four of Rich’s five children have graduated from Arizona Universities, and his youngest is graduating in May 2020. He and his wife Jennifer enjoy their time traveling and boating.

Since 2005, Chris Houk has been a dedicated advocate for the rights of Arizona’s workers, managers, and employers. From representing clients in small-town discrimination cases to arguing before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Chris has tirelessly worked to ensure that everyone is treated with the fairness, dignity, and respect they deserve. Chris’s extensive experience includes serving in the Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. These roles have given him a deep understanding of the laws and regulations that govern employment in Arizona. In addition to his legal practice, Chris is an adjunct professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. He also serves as an officer of the National Employment Lawyers Association, Co-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Section, and is a Fellow with the American Bar Foundation. Outside of work, Chris is actively involved in the Arizona and Metro Phoenix communities, where he and his wife are raising their three children.

Alison Briggs is very knowledgeable and efficient. She really cares about her clients needs. No situation is ever too difficult for her to handle. Miss Briggs offers appointments that will fit around your schedule, and will accommodate you wherever she can. Attorney Alison Briggs is an Arizona Bar Licensed attorney in Good Standing practicing law throughout Arizona. Alison, a Massachusetts native, grew up on the East Coast. She received a Bachelor degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Alison went on receive a Masters in Social Work from Salem State university in Salem, Massachusetts. Alison is a Licensed Certified Social Worker. In her spare time,

After high school, John attended the University of Utah, graduating in 2001. John then attended his dream school, Notre Dame Law School, where he graduated, with honors, in 2004. John is licensed to fight in court for real people in the State of Arizona, the United States Federal District Court of Arizona, and the 9th Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Before establishing what is now Torgenson Law, John practiced in the litigation group at Fennemore Craig, the oldest law firm in Arizona, and one of the largest firms in the Southwest. John will always be grateful to the excellent lawyers and great leaders who gave him a shot and taught him so much about being a personal injury lawyer at Fennemore Craig. Having practiced at Fennemore Craig in both the defense and plaintiff’s practice areas gives John a complete perspective of the litigation process, and valuable insight into how to efficiently and effectively advance his clients’ interests. His unique and balanced background enhances his credibility with defense lawyers, insurers, and defendants as well as with judges and arbitrators. John realizes that civic and community involvement is essential in order for him to keep a solid balance between his professional and personal life. He was named one of Phoenix’s top 35 entrepreneurs by the Arizona Republic. He has been a board member at Kids @ Core (offering fitness and healthy living classes for underprivileged children), has coached the 7th and 8th grade football teams at St. Francis Xavier, is an active member of the Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association, and serves meals to the homeless at Andre House in downtown Phoenix. John is also a member of Grand Canyon River Guides, and has been a licensed Grand Canyon River Guide for the past 22 years. John devotes 100% of his career to fighting insurance companies and corporate interests on behalf of good people who are hurt. People call this “personal injury law.” John wears that term proudly. Although insurance companies, corporations, and their lobbyists want you to envision slick-backed hair, greedy, desperate lawyers running after an ambulance when you hear “personal injury lawyer.” John wants people to envision what it really is – taking vulnerable, broken, hurt people who are at the loneliest, darkest times in their life, and helping them rebuild – piece by piece. Having the backs of real human beings by fighting against greedy insurance companies and corporations who are looking to boost their ever-increasing profits on the broken backs of the people they hurt. That’s what a real “personal injury lawyer” is. And John is proud to be one. John devotes his practice to sticking up for those wronged by others. Then, holding the wrongdoer accountable. Whether his client is injured due to someone’s choice to disregard basic safety rules, or a corporation or insurance company’s attempt to take advantage of an individual, John relentlessly pursues justice for his clients through loyal advocacy, honest communication, and the committed pursuit of the truth. John works hard and creatively, drawing on his mind and his heart for his clients to ensure that they are treated fairly in every single step of the litigation process. John gets his tireless work ethic from watching his dad, Fernando, report to work like clockwork as a Journeyman Lineman in Southern Utah for the past 43 years, then coming home and showing John how a real man works by being an amazing dad, coach, and maintaining their house. John’s mom, Karen, who raised him and his siblings to always stick up for themselves and anyone else getting picked on, gives him his unbending will to continue to take the fight to well-financed opponents, and seek justice for his clients.

When you are looking for a lawyer to help you resolve a legal matter, you want to know that your attorney has what it takes to handle your case with efficiency and professionalism. You also want to know that your attorney has the experience, the commitment, and the passion needed to protect your interests. At the Phoenix, Arizona law offices of Kanu & Associates, P.C., we help clients with many legal problems, from immigration concerns to criminal defense to small business issues. We bring experience and know-how to every matter we handle, and we zealously protect our clients' interests. Solomon O. Kanu graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan in 1999. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Economics from M.D. University Rohtak, India, and a Master's degree in Business Finance from M.S. University of Baroda, India. While in law school, Mr. Kanu gained invaluable experience working as a law clerk for the Presiding Judge of the 54th District Court in Lansing, Michigan, and with the California Attorney General's Office in the Licensing Division. Mr. Kanu handled cases dealing with license revocations of registered nurses, pharmacists, dentists, general contractors, auto mechanics, and others. Mr. Kanu was admitted to the practice of law in October 2001 by the Arizona Supreme Court. Since then, Mr. Kanu has focused on immigration law and related matters. He has represented individuals from at least 20 different countries in immigration and related matters. He represents individuals and organizations before the United States Citizenship Immigration Service across the United States and in immigration courts nationwide. Mr. Kanu also represents clients in criminal matters pending in Arizona as well as helps clients with small business concerns. Our Phoenix immigration attorney is a first-generation immigrant. He understands the hurdles involved in moving to and settling down in the United States. His goal is to make the journey easier for those coming after him.

Joshua Barton is a trial lawyer with experience handling catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and other cases defending the rights of people who have been injured by other’s negligence. As a founding partner at CalderonBarton, he is committed to helping individuals who would otherwise be intimidated and overwhelmed by the legal system. Mr. Barton takes pride in helping people get the results they are seeking, both in monetary justice and systemic improvements to corporate culture. He leads the firm’s efforts to be “Trial Ready & Tech Savvy” using technology to improve clients’ overall experience working with lawyers by investing in leading-edge software that makes responding to client Mr. Barton’s experience as a trial lawyer began in law school when he volunteered with the Ninth Circuit Pro Bono Appellate Project where he argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also volunteered as a student prosecutor for the City of Tucson, including trial experience prosecuting misdemeanor trials in Tucson. Mr. Barton was a member of the University of Arizona’s trial advocacy team, where he won the competition’s regional championship. In 2015, he began practicing at a large national law firm with an excellent reputation for trial advocacy successfully representing clients in high-stakes plaintiff’s litigation. Joshua gained valuable experience litigating personal injury cases by working on a wide variety of cases, from initial client intake through discovery, deposition, settlement negotiations and preparing for trial. That experience and his commitment to a laser-like focus on serving clients’ needs with direct, responsive and personalized service lead him to found CalderonBarton.

There are numerous characteristics that you want and expect in your criminal lawyer. Integrity, intelligence and an unfailing devotion to his clients are paramount. But those traits alone are not enough – you need a lawyer with significant experience defending clients charged with crimes. And that is exactly what David Black has been doing for the past seven years. Before entering private practice, Mr. Black served as a prosecutor in the Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office. That experience allowed him the unique opportunity to see first-hand how the prosecutors put their cases together, how they assemble their evidence, and how they formulate charges against criminal defendants. By seeing the process from the inside, Mr. Black gained significant insight that taught him how to spot weaknesses in the prosecution’s case; what to do in cases in which the prosecutor inflates the charges; how best to secure a dismissal or a reduction in charges; and how to negotiate the best possible results for his clients. A veteran of the criminal justice system, David is also an experienced trial attorney. The fact is that in some cases, the best alternative for a client is to proceed to trial, and if that is the case, Mr. Black will move forward unafraid. At all times, the essential principal is that every one of his clients is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Kristen Curry has been certified as a Criminal Law Specialist through the State Bar of Arizona for the past 25 years and has extensive jury trial and litigation experience. Kristen handles criminal cases, including both felony and misdemeanor matters, DUI cases, criminal appeals and post-conviction relief. Since 1998, Kristen has been teaching other attorneys statewide how to effectively challenge illegal searches in criminal cases. Her written materials on the subject have also been provided to Superior Court judges during judicial training. Kristen, along with the firm, has been given the highest rating by her legal peers, AV, in the Martindale-Hubbell national legal directory. In addition, Kristen is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. The Bar Register is a unique guide to the legal community's most eminent professionals. It includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating (AV) in the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory and that have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field. Kristen has been named as a Southwest Superlawyer and is listed in the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyers for Arizona. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys singing rock-n-roll with her band, traveling, playing pickleball and golf, and spending time with her family. She was raised in Arizona and attended Moon Valley High School. She earned her law degree from University of Arizona in 1993.

Tom Dean has been fighting for the rights of cannabis consumers since 1993. Although his interest in marijuana reform began in college, he cut his teeth on marijuana law as an attorney while working for well-known criminal defense attorney Lee Phillips in Flagstaff. After cultivating his knowledge in this area of law and deepening his experience in the courtroom for several years, he moved to Washington, D.C. to become the National Legal Director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). As NORML’s Legal Director, Tom initiated and managed many matters of national importance to marijuana policy reform and coordinated the efforts of the NORML Legal Committee and NORML Amicus Committee in key cases throughout the U.S. Since returning to Arizona, Tom has devoted his practice almost entirely to cannabis-related matters. He continues to serve as a lifetime member of the NORML Legal Committee, chairs the NORML Amicus Committee, is Legal Director of NORML’s Arizona state chapter, and was inducted into the NORML Distinguished Counsel’s Circle. He is also a founding member of the National Cannabis Bar Association (NCBA) and the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association (ACBA). Outside of the courtroom, Tom enjoys presenting at seminars and conferences both in Arizona and elsewhere and is working on a book he hopes to publish about marijuana law in Arizona. He remains a steadfast activist for marijuana policy reform.